​Join us for a special evening edition of Community Connect: After Hours, Montgomery College’s signature biotech networking event hosted by the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science + Technology (PIC MC).

​Overview

​As global tensions, tariffs, and foreign ownership controls reshape the biotech landscape, one question demands action: How will we secure America’s bioeconomy?

​Join Maryland’s leading voices in government, biomanufacturing, and economic development for a dynamic forum exploring how workforce, policy, and innovation can strengthen the nation’s biomanufacturing future.

​Together, we’ll break down how onshoring, federal investments, and strategic partnerships are reshaping U.S. competitiveness—and why Maryland is uniquely positioned to lead. Be part of the conversation shaping the next era of American biotechnology, policy, and national security.

​Agenda

​5:30pm | Fireside Chat
Topic: Building the U.S. Strategic API Reserve

​A provocative discussion on how supply chain resilience and national readiness depend on domestic innovation, investment, and a secure, skilled workforce.

• ​Vic Suarez, BioScience & Supply Chain Executive, Global Board Director at ATCC

• ​Geoff Ling, MD, PhD, Jean Ann Brock Distinguished Chair Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

​6:00pm | Panel Discussion
Topic: Reshoring & Building Maryland’s Biotech Manufacturing Advantage

​An expert conversation examining how domestic production, policy shifts, and new trade alliances are transforming the biomanufacturing landscape—and what Maryland must do to compete and thrive.

• ​Prashant Panchal, MS, MBA, Director, Business Planning & Operations, AstraZeneca

• ​Chris Frew, CEO, BioBuzz

• ​Thomas Luginbill, Executive Director, PIC MC (moderator)

​Speakers

​Geoff Ling, MD, PhD, Jean Ann Brock Distinguished Chair Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

​Dr. Geoffrey Ling was the Founding Director of the Biological Technologies Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he developed strategic partnerships (public and private) and investment strategies and conduct mentoring. He served as the Deputy Director and as a Program Manager in the Defense Sciences Office. While a Program Manager, Dr. Ling established and managed the Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program, which created the most advanced prosthetic arm to date. Notably, it was FDA approved and commercialized by Mobius Bionics within 8 years of program start. In addition, this program created and delivered the first brain controlled human prosthetic arm and hand within 5 years and was featured on the TV program “60 Minutes.” His DARPA Preventing Violent Explosive Neurologic Trauma (PREVENT) program elucidated the mechanisms by which explosive blast causes brain injury and led to the development of the Blast Gauge by BlackBox Biometrics, a Rochester Institute of Technology spinout company. Within 5 years of the PREVENT program start, the Blast Gauge was fielded and resulted in better medical management of explosive blast traumatic brain injury (TBI) and changes in both training and tactics that reduced TBI associated with blast. In 5 years, Dr. Ling’s Battlefield Medicine program, which developed technology to produce needed medicines at the point of care, led to an MIT spin-out company, On Demand Pharmaceuticals, that now 5 years later is valued at $500M. His Predicting Health and Disease program, which produced tests that could determine who would become ill and when after an exposure to an infectious agent, led to a Duke spinout company, Predigen, that successfully merged with Biomeme. Dr. Ling also served as an Assistant Director for Medical Innovation in the Science Division of President Obama’s White House Office of Science, Technology and Policy (OSTP), and developed public federal policy related to health care innovation for President Obama. He assisted in organizing and launching the President’s BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, a White House led enterprise advancing brain research through innovative neurotechnologies. He also helped launch the White House efforts to combat Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria (ARB) initiative.Colonel Ling is a retired U.S. Army medical officer who served on active duty for 21 years. He was deployed as an intensive care physician with the 452nd CSH (combat support hospital) in OEF-Afghanistan (2003) and 86th CSH and 10th CSH in OIF-Iraq (2005). Also, COL Ling has had four in-theater missions as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff “Gray Team” to assess traumatic brain injury (TBI) care in both combat theaters (2009, 2011). The 10th CSH named him their first “Physician of the Month.” Dr. Ling was also a “requested by name” consultant to Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s trauma team following her tragic attack. Presently,

​Vic Suarez, BioScience & Supply Chain Executive, Global Board Director at ATCC

​Vic is the Founder of Blu Zone Bioscience & Supply Chain Solutions and a retired U.S. Army officer with over 27 years of service in biotechnology and healthcare logistics. He previously served as Chief of Staff at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Vaccine Program Manager at Operation Warp Speed, and Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Logistics Management Center at Fort Detrick. Vic played key roles in accelerating the development and delivery of Ebola and Mpox vaccines and led initiatives in supply chain modernization and biosecurity. He holds a B.S. from UCLA and an M.S. from Central Michigan University and is certified as both a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP). Vic also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at USUHS, and serves on ATCC’s Global Board of Directors.

​Prashant Panchal, MS, MBA, Director, Business Planning & Operations, AstraZeneca

​Prashant Panchal boasts over 15 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, seamlessly blending his extensive knowledge in both science and business. His unique ability to bridge these two worlds allows him to offer invaluable insights that drive business success. Prashant’s journey in the biopharmaceutical sector began in the realm of science, where he worked as a scientist. His thirst for broader impact and a holistic understanding of the industry led him to transition into project management. His capabilities and vision evolved into a strategic role in Business Planning and Operations, showcasing his adaptability and forward-thinking mindset.

​Today, as the Director of Business Planning and Operations at AstraZeneca, Prashant oversees capacity planning, capital expenditure, contracts, portfolio, and governance for a department comprising more than 1,100 employees supporting over 100 drug projects. Before joining AstraZeneca, Prashant accumulated a wealth of experience at organizations such as Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Teva Biopharmaceuticals USA, and AGC Biologics, one of the largest Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMO) for biopharmaceuticals. His diverse professional journey has equipped him with a profound understanding of the industry and its complexities. In addition to his professional endeavors, Prashant is dedicated to fostering industry academic collaboration and next-generation workforce development.

​Chris Frew, CEO, BioBuzz

​Chris is the Founder of BioBuzz Networks, Inc, a life science talent community and hiring platform, and CEO of Workforce Genetics, LLC (WGx), a prominent life science recruitment firm. He has been supporting companies in the regional life sciences industry with recruiting and marketing solutions for 20+ years.

​​Previously serving as the Vice President of Sales at Breezio, a leading innovator in cloud-based online communities, and the Vice President of Tech USA’s Scientific Division, which he founded and grew into a national practice. Chris has almost two decades of experience successfully leading teams, projects and fostering engaged communities within the Life Science industry.

​​He is a Maryland native and a graduate of Towson University.

​Thomas Luginbill, Executive Director, PIC MC

​As the executive director at Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC), Thomas leads efforts to expand PIC MC as a hub for education, business, and innovation, fostering collaboration among academic, corporate, and government partners. Luginbill has extensive experience in innovation and community development, including leading the Entrepreneur & Innovation Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, where he revitalized the town of Indian Head and launched the Velocity Center. He also managed the Techport Incubator at the University of Maryland College Park, supporting start-ups and workforce development. Luginbill has a master’s from the University of Maryland and received his bachelor’s from the University of Delaware.

​About PIC MC

​The Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC) is an integrated academic, business, and research hub uniquely designed to connect education, industry, and innovation within Maryland’s I-270 technology corridor.

​Located in Germantown and part of the nationally recognized Montgomery College which serves nearly 50,000 students across 140+ programs, PIC MC provides unmatched access to hands-on learning and workforce pathways in fields such as biotechnology, cybersecurity, engineering, and health sciences.

​The campus is home to Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, the only full-service hospital based on a community college campus, as well as Hughes Network Systems’ state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing facility.

​PIC MC anchors a larger innovation ecosystem that includes the Germantown Innovation Center, the county’s premier incubator for early-stage tech and life science companies; BioTrain, a leading regional biotech workforce training program; Bio-Trac, a nationally recognized provider of advanced laboratory training; and Flexnode, an innovative data center technology company helping shape the digital infrastructure of the future.

​Surrounded by more than 350 bioscience companies and key federal institutions, PIC MC fosters collaboration, fuels regional talent pipelines, and drives economic growth—creating a dynamic ecosystem where education, industry partnerships, and innovation thrive.

​Bioscience Education Center

​In a region ranked among the top five nationally for biotechnology, the Bioscience Education Center provides the College and business communities a fully integrated research environment that includes laboratories, classrooms, meeting space, and a conference center. The center offers dedicated space and equipment for teaching cell culture, bio-manufacturing (cell propagation), and genetic diagnostics.

​Tours will be available following the program for those interested.